Friday, February 28, 2014

I'm trying to determine what it is about all the stone in Yorkshire that appeals to me so. My daughter accuses me of having a low E.Q. (emotional quotient), so perhaps that's reflected in this attraction to the beautiful stone walls, stone roads, stone walls, stone everything that fills the otherwise bleak landscape of North Yorkshire. I'm probably supposed to like the flowers better. However, flowers fade and die. Stone lives forever.

'Private' - Richmond

Near Buckden?

In Reeth

More Reeth

See those daffodils? They're gone by now. But you can count on that stone still being there.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

I know that many of you like vintage books. There seems to be something comforting about the look and feel of those old hardcovers with their color plates and quality binding.

Having homeschooled for many years, I managed to acquire quite a collection of old children's readers, history books, storybooks, science books, and many books that have titles like, 'Stories Far and Near' or 'Tales of Long Ago.'

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

This is the first time I've ever joined Joyce From This Side of the Pond and the weekly meme, 'Wednesday Hodgepodge.' I've always enjoyed reading the contributions to Hodgepodge, and this time, just for fun, I thought I'd join in. Thank you Joyce!

1. What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?

Getting a hip replacement. It's not exactly something one can forget. I'm on week 8 now and walking without a cane. Just saw the surgeon who asked me why I was limping. I told him it was because he cut my leg off! (Duh!) But it is getting better and he gave me another exercise to do to strengthen those particular muscles. All's going great!

2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???

I don't think there are many household chores I've never done, but I'm never the one who cleans and bleaches the shower. My husband has a lower tolerance to filth than I do, so he does a great job regularly keeping germs at bay. My tolerance isn't extreme, mind you, but certainly enough to wait it out.:-) I sure hope he doesn't read this.

3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain?

Nature is what we're given, and of course it sets our personalities. Still, what we do with those God-given personalities is up to us. We are called to follow God and build godly character through practicing making good choices, in order for them eventually to become 'second nature.' One pet peeve of mine is hearing people say, 'That's just the way I am.' Well, yes, that may be true, but that doesn't mean it's the way we must remain, nor is it an excuse to do so.

4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me an idea for a question relating to this topic. What's your favorite food eaten on a stick?

I loved banana and cherry popsicles when I was a kid. Every Sunday night after church (in the hot summertime) my friends and I would walk the couple blocks to the A&W root beer stand and go up to the screened window to order popsicles. I remember hearing the bugs frying on those bug killer things they had hanging from the eaves. Anyway, I haven't had a popsicle for years, and it would probably put me in a coma on the couch within 20 minutes, but just thinking about it makes me long for that wonderful sweet icy treat. I loved it when the frost was just starting to go out of it and it became a little softer. The worst part about the popsicle was when part of it would break off and fall into the dirt. At least if it had fallen into the grass, I could have brushed the grass off.

5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?

I definitely treasure my sense of sight the most. I can't get over the beauty that God so generously has shared with us. The amazing sunrises, sunsets, blue skies, clouds, snowstorms (yes, they're annoying at times but still beautiful), the green of the alfalfa field, the beautiful creatures (cats, dogs, German Shepherds, Springer Spaniels, Poodles, etc. Did I say 'dogs'? What is more beautiful than a German Shepherd face and those penetrating, melting eyes. I just saw a huge male shepherd today that reminded me so much of Bridger, my sweet German Shepherd who died last year. I'm so eager to get a GSD puppy! Yes, I tend to digress. And even the deer in my yard are beautiful to look at as they chow down on my sweet little McIntosh apple tree (which I now have to replace this spring.)

I love seeing the spines of books in my library. I love the sunlight on our barn in the early mornings.

I love seeing the color of vegetables from my garden. I love seeing the photos of my grandchildren.

I miss that sweet little grandson face.

The older one is sweet too, and I'm glad I get to see it daily.

I would definitely miss the wonderful sense of sight the most. And when you think about it, what extraordinary design is the human eye, and what an amazing gift from our Creator.

6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?

Probably the most memorable was attending a performance of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, in Mexico City. It was a spectacular event, so full of color and sound and precision. I want to say that it filled up my senses, but that dredges up a disturbing image of John Denver in his wire-rimmed glasses, singing... BUT, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico was beautiful and memorable! I would love to see it again.

Oh, but wait! Maybe it would be choral evensong at Westminster Abbey or the choir at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February.

So go, snow. No mo.

Not that it isn't beautiful, but I'm ready to share it with someone else.

8. Insert my own random thought:

So here it is, the month of February isn't even over and we're already out of Downton Abbey. How did this happen so fast? We don't get Season Five until next January - unless we cheat, and watch it in September with the Brits. Which, of course, I fully intend to do. I'm not waiting any longer than absolutely necessary. Downton Abbey is like audio/visual comfort food. I never tire of it. I do get tired of Thomas's never-ending attempts to get Branson into trouble with the Crawleys, but I love the whole upstairs/downstairs theme. As long as Julian Fellowes remains the writer, I'll want to be watching future episodes of Downton Abbey. I'm even starting to like Edith. A bit. A very little bit.

Dice chicken and stirfry chicken and garlic in a bit of olive oil, then put a tad of butter in the pan and turn the heat down a bit and continue stirfrying until the chicken is browned. When done, remove chicken to a plate. Sprinkle about 2 t. or more of Perfect Pinch seasoning on top. (I don't know how much I used. It was some, and it turned out fine.)

In a little olive oil, in that hot skillet, stirfry the onion and peppers. When they're nearly done, add the peas and continue to stirfry.

Mix the chicken back into the skillet, pour about 1/4 c. Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing on top, then mix and heat thoroughly.

When it's ready, spoon a good amount of basil pesto on the top and serve. The basil pesto is that which you made in abundance last summer, froze in a multitude of little containers, and keep forgetting to use. It is perfect for this recipe and tastes delicious!

If anyone doesn't enjoy this meal, I'd simply stop cooking for them, for they obviously don't have an educated and refined palate and it's not worth wasting good food on them.

Monday, February 24, 2014

The TODAY Show is running this odd thing called 'Love Your Selfie.' People are taking selfies and telling themselves how much they love [themselves].

Can you believe that Americans need MORE encouragement to love themselves???? They say that people spend an average of 55 minutes a day, primping. Yes, that poll must have been limited to America. I can't imagine that happening in the jungle of Bolivia or in the Ukraine.

As my husband says, 'We are so Rome.'

That would be ancient Rome, before the fall, you know.

Do they really think I want to know how Matt Lauer feels about his body imperfections.

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O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!' - Psalm 8:3-9 NASB

Psalm 100:3

'Know that the Lord Himself is God. It is He who has made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.'

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Welcome to my blog! My name is Judy, and except for a couple brief intervals, I've lived in Wisconsin all my life. I married the neighbor boy many years ago and we're still best friends. Our family of two has expanded to 19, including children and grandchildren. Of course that's before we start counting the dogs and cats.